Skip to content

Estevan's Preston Brodziak commits to play in the U.S.

A long-time member of the Estevan Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) has committed to play Division 1 hockey in the NCAA next season. Preston Brodziak will join the Long Island University Sharks program in New York.
Preston Brodziak
Estevan’s Preston Brodziak has committed to play Division 1 hockey in the U.S. next season. Photo submitted

A long-time member of the Estevan Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) has committed to play Division 1 hockey in the NCAA next season.

Preston Brodziak will join the Long Island University Sharks program in New York. The upcoming season will be the first for the Sharks in men’s hockey.

“I got some videos of the campus,” Brodziak told the Mercury. “Obviously I can’t go down there for a visit, for a tour or anything, but the spot where it is, Long Island, it’s a really cool place to live. The whole school is a really cool school.”

The campus is located in in Brookville, which is about 40 kilometres east of New York City.

The Sharks status as a first-year team was a factor in his decision.

“I’m really excited for that opportunity, because I’m going to be there from the very start,” said Brodziak. “There’s going to be lots of opportunity, and at the same time, it’s going to be kind of special, too, because you’re there from the very beginning.

“I think in the long run, the program, by the sounds of it, is going to turn into something special.”

The coach is Brett Riley, who made a favourable impression on Brodziak last year.

“He cares about character a lot, and he’s a younger guy, so I think he’s going to build a pretty good team,” said Brodziak. “He’s done it before with a Division 3 school … so he has a little bit of experience from building up a team from the start.”

Brodziak expects to study business at Long Island.

An Estevan native, Brodziak played the bulk of his minor hockey here. He was the top scorer in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League’s midget AA division in 2015-16 with 33 goals and 59 points in 38 games.

He credits the EMHA for playing a big role in his development.

“I grew up here and I played most of my years here when I was a younger kid. I got cut from the midget AA team in my first year, and that put me down a bit, and then I used it as motivation to just work harder, and the next year I ended up leading the league (in scoring),” he said.  

His final year of midget was with the Regina Pat Canadians AAA program. He had a productive season with the Pat Canadians with 13 goals and 38 points in 43 games, but starred in the postseason. Brodziak had five goals and 16 points in 11 playoff games as the Pat Canadians won the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League Title, and he had a big role in helping the Pat Canadians win the Telus Cup qualifier. Then he had two goals and an assist in four games at the Telus Cup national tournament.

That season also saw Brodziak play three games as an affiliated player with the Estevan Bruins, scoring once, but he decided to play in B.C. Hockey League because the league attracts more scouts.

“They send a few more guys off to college, and that was my goal, was to play Division 1 hockey, so I’m really grateful and glad that I made the decision to go out there.”

All three seasons of junior hockey were in B.C., playing with each of the Nanaimo Clippers, the Cowichan Valley Capitals and the Prince George Spruce Kings. He was an alternate captain with Prince George.

His rights were briefly dealt to the Estevan Bruins last summer, but then he was traded to the Prince George Spruce Kings in the deal that brought goaltender Keenan Rancier to Estevan.

Brodziak said he will work to get bigger and stronger for next season. It will be tough to skate this summer due to COVID-19, but he hopes the ice will be installed at Affinity Place at some point in the summer so he can skate.